Saginaw Bay the weather has caused major hiccups with the fishing, the ability to get out there and then trying to find fish as most days they were scattered. Some walleye and channel cats were caught near the G-Buoy off Linwood. Walleye were still being caught off the Pinconning Bar but the action was starting to slow. The east side of the Spark Plug was producing a few for those using spoons in 20 to 25 feet. Those fishing off Quanicassee reported poor catch rates. The better action was from Sebewaing to Caseville when fishing around Oak Point and the Charity Islands. A few limit catches were taken in 25 to 40 feet with crawler harnesses but some were also using spoons or crank baits. The incidental trout or salmon were caught out deeper.
- Saginaw River those using worms and minnows at Smith Park were catching channel cats and freshwater drum.
- Sanford Lake pink is still the color for bluegill and crappie. Try a pink jig with a wax worm for bluegills or a minnow for crappie. Cooler temperatures should improve the bite for bass, walleye and pike.
Au Gres Area anglers here were going deeper and fishing out past the Charity Islands and around the Steeples.
Outer Saginaw Bay:
Oscoda pier anglers caught smallmouth bass and channel cats. There have been a few reports of the occasional walleye caught. Lake trout were in abundance north, south or straight out from the river. The fish were suspended throughout the water column in 90 to 160 feet. Spoons, flies, cut bait and wobble glows worked well.
Port Austin walleyes were caught between here and Port Hope. Crawler harnesses worked best in 25 to 45 feet but some were using spoons and artificial baits. Pier anglers caught few smallmouth bass.
Tawas Area most of the fishing success is coming from deeper water near the Gravelly Shoals, the Steeples, or near and past the Charity Islands in 15 to 35 feet. Some are still fishing inside Tawas Point in 10 to 25 feet, Buoys 4 through 6 and near Jerry’s Marina. They are using lindy rigs and casting. No reports from the Tawas River.
Weekly Fishing Tip: Summer bluegill fishing
Once bluegill have finished spawning in the spring and they are no longer concentrated in shallow bedding areas, larger adult bluegill can be hard to locate. Because of this, many anglers give up targeting this tasty fish until the next spring. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are three tips on how to locate and catch this scrappy fighter and great table fare after the warm days of summer have arrived.
First and foremost, go deep! The larger bluegill (and often other species as well) move out from shore and down into deeper water where temperatures remain much cooler. In most typical Michigan lakes this means fishing about 10-15 feet down either with slip bobbers or drifting without a bobber using a lightly-weighted line (1-2 small split shot), a small hook on the end, and enough line out to keep your bait at those depths. In lakes with clear water you may have to go as deep as 20 feet or more.
Second, try different baits. While half a crawler or a large worm with a small hook in just one end is always good, the larger fish also love leeches or crickets if your local bait shop has them available. The tough skin on a leech usually allows you to catch several fish on each bait and the wiggling legs on a cricket seem to be irresistible. Scented leech imitations or even the wax worms used while ice fishing can also work.
And third, don’t be afraid to move away from the shore. During warm weather the larger bluegill often suspend out in the middle of the lake. A slow, leisurely drift without a bobber across deeper areas can often lead to finding such a suspended school. You can then stop and target them with slip bobbers or keep drifting through the same area resulting in catching several of the larger fish suspended there.
But beware! You never know when a much larger fish such as a walleye, bass or good-size yellow perch might also be hanging out in that deeper water and hungry enough to grab that tasty morsel drifting by. Have fun! Relax! And GOOD FISHIN!